SMOKIES TRIP PLANNER COVID-19 The National Park Service is working with federal, state, and local health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Check nps.gov/grsm for the latest updates on open facilities and access. All openings are based on available staffing. Temporary closures may occur on short notice. Road closures • Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays from May 5 through September 1 to allow for non-motorized recreation. The road is closed to all vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from September 7 through September 27 for paving work. • Forge Creek Road is closed for bridge repair. Camping in the national park The National Park Service maintains developed campgrounds at nine locations in the park. Only Cades Cove and
MOVING ROCKS HARMS AQUATIC LIFE.
SMOKIES GUIDE
Smokies Guide is produced four times per year by Great Smoky Mountains Association and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. nps.gov/grsm SmokiesInformation.org
Maps and guides: SmokiesInformation.org Additional information: nps.gov/grsm
Smokemont are open in winter. There are no showers or hookups other than circuits for special medical uses at Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Campsite reservations are required at all park campgrounds, including Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Sites may be reserved up to six months in advance. Make your reservation at recreation.gov or call 877.444.6777. Site occupancy is limited to six people and two vehicles (a trailer = one vehicle). The maximum stay is 14 days. Special campsites for large groups are available seasonally at Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Group sites must be reserved and may be secured up to a year in advance. The list below shows number of sites, elevations, nightly fees, and maximum RV lengths. For more information, visit nps.gov/grsm. • Abrams Creek 16 sites, elev. 1,125', $17.50, 12' trailers • Balsam Mountain 42 sites, elev. 5,310', $17.50, 30' RVs • Big Creek 12 sites, elev. 1,700', $17.50, tents only • Cades Cove 159 sites, elev. 1,807', $21-$25, 35'–40' RVs • Cataloochee 27 sites, elev. 2,610', $25, 31' RVs • Cosby 157 sites, elev. 2,459', $17.50, 25' RVs • Deep Creek 92 sites, elev. 1,800', $25, 26' RVs • Elkmont 220 sites, elev. 2,150', $21–$27, 32'–35' RVs • Smokemont 142 sites, elev. 2,198', $21–$25, 35'–40' RVs • Look Rock closed in 2021
Accommodations • LeConte Lodge (accessible by trail only) provides the only lodging in the park. 865.429.5704 or lecontelodge.com • Bryson City 800.867.9246 or greatsmokies.com • Cherokee 800.438.1601 or visitcherokeenc.com • Fontana 800.849.2258 or fontanavillage.com • Gatlinburg 800.588.1817 or gatlinburg.com • Maggie Valley 800.624.4431 or maggievalley.org • Pigeon Forge 800.251.9100 or mypigeonforge.com • Sevierville 888.766.5948 or visitsevierville.com • Townsend 800.525.6834 or smokymountains.org Firewood To prevent the spread of destructive pests, the NPS has banned outside firewood from entering the park unless it is USDA- or state-certified heat-treated wood. Campers may gather dead and down wood in the park for campfires. Visitor centers Hours may be modified due to COVID. Oconaluftee, Sugarlands, and Cades Cove: 9–5 in June; 9–7 in July–August; 9–6 in September (Cades Cove open 9–6:30 in September). Cades Cove will be closed September 7–27. Clingmans Dome: 10–5 in June; 10–6:30 in July–August, 10–6 in September. Other services There are no gas stations, showers, or restaurants in the national park.
Picnic areas Picnic areas are at Big Creek, Cades Cove, Chimneys, Collins Creek, Cosby, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, Heintooga, Look Rock, and Metcalf Bottoms. See map on page 16. Picnic pavilions may be reserved for $12.50–$60 at recreation.gov. For rent The Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence Cabin at Elkmont Campground can be rented for daytime events. Make a reservation at recreation.gov. Horseback riding Some 550 miles of park trails are open to horses. See park trail map for trails and rules. Horse camps are available at Anthony Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom, and Tow String. Visit recreation.gov for reservations. Four concession horseback riding stables offer rides from March through November. • Cades Cove 865.448.9009 cadescovestables.com • Smokemont 828.497.2373 smokemontridingstable.com • Smoky Mtn. 865.436.5634 smokymountainridingstables.com • Sugarlands 865.436.3535 sugarlandsridingstables.com Bicycling Most park roads are too narrow and heavily traveled by automobiles for safe or enjoyable bicycling. Bicycles are permitted on park roads but prohibited on trails except Gatlinburg, Oconaluftee River, and lower Deep Creek/Indian Creek trails. Helmets are required by law for persons age 16 and under and strongly recommended for all bicyclists. On Wednesdays from May 5 to E Printed on recycled paper
Publication dates Spring: mid-March Summer: early June Autumn: mid-Sept. Winter: mid-Dec.
Senior Editor Frances Figart Managing Editor Aaron Searcy
Writers Korrin Bishop Martha Hunter Valerie Polk Sarah Shiver
Lead Designer Karen Key Design Assistants Emma DuFort Lisa Horstman
Smokies Guide Summer 2021 • 2
NPS Coordinator Stephanie Kyriazis NPS Committee Beth Bramhall Antoine Fletcher
Julianne Geleynse Lisa Nagurny Becky Nichols Susan Sachs Paul Super Stephanie Sutton
Rhonda Wise © 2021 GSMA P.O. Box 130 Gatlinburg, TN 37738
